Basic Beginner-Friendly End-Table

I’ve built 2 of these, both using dimensional pine lumber from Lowes, and basic pocket-hole joinery.

You can finish however you like.

I recommend staining the pine to a shade you want, then finishing with a wipe on polyurethane.

>How to Stain Wood
>How to Apply Wipe-on Poly

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The Plans

Tools and Jigs needed

• Table saw
• Pocket hole jig
• Jig saw (or scroll saw, or hand will work)
• Drill

Harware and Material needed

• (1) 2×6 @8′ (38x138x2400)
• (3) 1×6 @8′ (19x138x2400)
• (1) 1×4 @4′ (19x88x1200)
• ——-
• 1-1/4″ (32mm) pocket screws as needed
• 2-1/2″ (64mm) pocket screws as needed
• 1-1/4″ (30mm) wood screws as needed
• PVA wood glue as needed

Cut List

Cutting Diagram

Dimensional Diagram

Step 1

Cut the leg pieces (C) with a 45 degree bevel on one side and glue as shown to create the legs.

Use clamping jigs to hold pieces in place when gluing along the beveled edges.

Optional – Use brad nails (instead of clamping), you can fill with putty later.

Optional – Use biscuit joinery for helping with alignment and additional strength.

Optional – Round over along the beveled/glued edges of the completed legs, with a 1/4” or 3/8” round-over bit on your router table.

Step 2

Cut your top aprons to size and drill pocket holes for later attaching the top.

Attach aprons to legs with 1-1/4” (30mm) wood screws as shown.

The top of the aprons will be flush with the top of the legs.

To keep from splitting the wood, drill clearance holes in the aprons, and pilot holes in the legs.

>How To Do Pocket Hole Joinery

Step 3

Cut your shelf pieces to size and join with wood glue and 1-1/4” (32mm) pocket screws.

Clamping is not needed since you’re reinforcing with pocket screws.

Step 4

Make sure your assembled shelf has the same dimensions as the outside/top of the legs.

Then outline the legs on the shelf (at the bottom) as shown, and cut away material using a jig saw, a scroll saw, or a hand saw.

Step 5

Drill pocket holes as shown (4 total). Slide the shelf up the legs until the top of it is 4” (100mm) from the bottom of the legs.

Attach to legs with 1-1/4” (32mm) pocket screws as shown.

Step 6

Attach the bottom aprons to the legs with 1-1/4” (30mm) wood screws as shown.

Be sure to drill clearance holes in the aprons, and pilot holes in the legs first.

Optional – reinforce by applying glue to the top of the aprons and clamping them to the shelf, then screw them to the legs.

Step 7

1. Cut the pieces for the top and attach with glue and 2-1/2” (64mm) pocket screws. No clamping needed.

Step 8

Line up your table-top (upside down) with the base on top, with 1” overhang on each side.

Attach the top to the aprons with 1-1/4” (32mm) pocket screws, in the pocket holes you drilled in step 2.

For a coffee table project that is a similar style to this end table, check out this project guide.

For a more rustic look, you can do projects like this using reclaimed wood.

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